What advice would you give to someone who is discerning a
religious vocation in secret, and is absolutely terrified
of their parents finding out? What is the best way to
defend a call to religious life to parents who do not
necessarily even believe in the idea of vocation?

Answer by Richard Geraghty on 11/9/2012:

Dear Anon,

That is a hard question. When Mother Angelica reached the age of eighteen, she had to sneak away from her single parent mother to go to the convent. Her mother would have raised an emotional storm which would have been hard on both of them. At a certain point you have to act the adult and choose the path you think you must take.